Human Rights

The Australian Human Rights Commission has commissioned the Australian Multicultural Foundation (AMF) in association with RMIT University and Monash University to prepare a report on "Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century".  Submissions were called for in September 2008 and close at the end of January 2009.

 

To quote from the website "this project is designed to work with faith communities and other civil society organisations to record their concerns and proposed solutions to build a more socially cohesive and harmonious society that protects and promotes Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

 

More information can be found on their website:  http://www.humanrights.gov.au/frb/index.html

 

There is an aspect to the report which calls for comment on:

7: Religion, cultural expression and human rights

In a country as multicultural as Australia, freedoms of cultural expression, religious expression and human rights need ongoing exploration. This section is about gaining a deeper understanding of how effective Australia's current human rights framework is, and if tensions between human rights, religious expression and cultural expression are of concern.

Questions to consider include:

1.       Is there satisfactory freedom of cultural expression and practice within the normative social and legal framework?

2.       Do service providers in your state or territory support the right to cultural security, safety and competence?

3.       How can the cultural aspirations and human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders be met?

4.       What are the issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at present, and proposed solutions?

5.       Are there any issues in regard to participation in the faith community for people with disabilities?

6.       How is diverse sexuality perceived within faith communities?

7.       How can faith communities be inclusive of people of diverse sexualities?

8.       Should religious organisations (including religious schools, hospitals and other service delivery agencies) exclude people from employment because of their sexuality or their sex and gender identity?

9.       Do you consider environmental concern to be an influence shaping spiritualities and value systems?

10.   a) Are there religious groups, practices and beliefs that you think are of concern to Australians?

b) Should these be subjected to legislative control, and should they be eligible for government grants and assistance?

 

I think it would be worthwhile if WEL puts in a submission along the lines of ...  concern about cultural interpretation posing as religion and the detrimental impact on women of these practices, and that society is changing and if religion does not also change, it will be constraining - however we frame it.

 

I think we need to counter some of the current practices of religious groups and to bring some balance to the discussion.  I'm sure there will be lots of examples to cite if we put our minds to it, eg religious beliefs and access to abortion is one that springs readily to mind.  Politicians with religious beliefs (Brian Haradine) impacting on where foreign aid will go and preventing RU486 from being available in Australia.  There is also the whole question of gay people and their acceptance into religious groups.

 

I would also like to remind the Enquiry (as I'm sure others will), that the Australian Constitution speaks of freedom OF and freedom FROM religion.

 

If you are interested in having input into this submission (and please feel free to disagree with me), please send your comments to me at the WEL NSW office (welnsw@comcen.com.au)

 

Anne